Moistening devices



1959 s. KIRSCHENBAUM I 2,868,

MOISTENING DEVICES Filed June 2, 1955 Fatentecl Jan. l3, i959 MOISTENINGDEVICES Samuel Kirschenbaum, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 2, 1955, Serial No. 512,743

3 Claims. (Cl. 141-498) This invention relates generally to the field ofmoistening devices, and more particularly to an improved form of suchdevice particularly adapted for use in fueling pyrophoric lighters of atype used by smokers, in which the fuel is carried within a casinghaving absorbent cotton stuffed therein to prevent the fuel from runningout.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide adevice of the class described in which the flow of fuel from a containerof the same to the lighter is under accurate control so that it ispossible to provide all of the fuel which the absorbent cotton willhold, while yet preventing the excess flow of fuel such that it will runfrom the lighter to soil the hands of the users and present a possiblefire hazard.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a moisteningdevice possessed of the above advantages, in which the cost offabrication may be of a very low order, thereby permitting consequentwide sale, distribution and use.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of integralcontainer stopper means adapted to seal a container of fuel when thedevice is not in use.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of amoistening device in which accuracy of flow control to a degree hithertoimpossible is obtained by those possessed of only ordinary skill.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, willbecome more clearly apparent during the course of the followingdisclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

Before entering into a detailed consideration of the invention, a briefdiscussion of the theory involved in the operation of the same willassist in the comprehension of the structural aspects of the invention.

The field of organized flow of liquids from containers by natural forcestakes in all liquiddispensing devices which, when brought into a pouringposition, are characterized by an inner space completely isolated fromthe outside atmosphere. In all such dispensers, a partial vacuumdevelops and the flow of liquid from them takes place under theinfluence of normal pressure of the outside atrnosphere, and asub-normal pressure in the isolated air space. They are designated inthis application as primary dispensers, and are divided into two groupsto be known as primary first stage and primary second stage.

In my Patent No. 2,576,403, granted November 27,

1951, for drop device, the action described is that of a primary firststage dispenser which gives up limited amounts of liquid byintermittently turning the dispenser to a pouring position. There is nocontinuous flow and the volume of liquid dispensed with each such actionis determined by the relationship of the weight of the liquid and thevolume of air within the container.

In my earlier Patent No. 2,411,435, the action described is that of asecondary stage dispenser in which the action is continuous as long asit is kept in a pouring position.

In accordance with the present invention, the complete dispenser,including a bottle or other container for fuel and the device, is heldin an upright position, and the 2 lighter minus its screw cap or othercovering device is brought down over it such that the spout is in fullcontact with the absorbent material disposed therein' Following this,both lighter and dispenser are turned downwardly with the originalcontact maintained throughout, and with the weight of the dispenserproviding suflicient pressure for that purpose. At this point, there maybe observed a stream of bubbles entering the container. When thesebubbles stop completely, the lighter and dispenser are brought backtogether into an upright position. The lighter is then removed and readyfor use.

The self-limiting action of the dispenser, which prevents the lighterfilling to excess, takes place in the following manner. The act ofturning the dispenser downward frees a small amount of liquid which ispicked up by the absorbent material, which then continues to pull liquidfrom the container. The partial vacuum deepens until air breaks througha venting means in the wall of the spout.

A out without displacing any material is the smallest opening that canbe provided for the passage of fluids, liquids or gases, and constitutesunder any given set of circumstances the greatest degree of resistanceto their passage. it requires a differential in pressure above a certainpoint to force any fluid through the cut. The resistance point thereforeremains constant.

As the absorbing medium soaks up fluid, its pulling power decreases, andwhen it drops to the point where it equals the resistance the actionstops.

The degree of wetness of any absorbing medium is determined by thedegree of resistance that: is established. In cigarette lighters theventing action is stopped at a point just below the point of maximummass tension of its absorbent material. it carried beyond that pointdripping takes place and excess liquid spreads to the outside of thelighter with consequent discomfort to the user.

With the foregoing discussion in mind, reference may now be made to theaccompanying drawing, in which similar reference characters have beenemployed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a View in perspective of a first embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the embodiment.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation, partially broken away to show detail,and showing the position of various parts during a filling operation.

Figure 4 is av plan view of the embodiment.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 5--5 onFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation, corresponding to that seen on Figure 3,but showing a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the second embodiment.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 88 onFigure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the venting means employed in the secondembodiment.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the venting means employed in analternate form of the first and second embodiment.

The first embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by referencecharacter lit, comprises broadly: a liquid conducting element ll,venting means 12, and a stopper element 13, the device being shown onFigure 1 with the stopper element It? in position within a neck portion114 of a conventional glass bottle of fuel. On Figure 3 there is shown aconventional pyrophoric lighter 16 having absorbent cotton means 17 forretaining fuel therein.

The liquid conducting element 11 is preferably formed completely fro-man integral piece of polyethylene or similar synthetic resinous materialpossessing desired degree of resiliency and flexibility. It includes aneck engaging =member'2tl, a collar member 21 'and'a nozzle rnem ber 22having 2. lighter engaging terminal 23 thereon. A

As may bubbles of air in the duct from interfering with the-'- flowof-fuel. The venting means 12 is in theform of an elongated slit 30which is cut from the outer surface 31 of the nozzle 22to the innersurface 32 thereof, and

which. extends from the end surface 33 to the collarmember 21,.as bestseen on Figures 1 and 3. The cut is made with a sharp instrument, insuch a manner that the side surfaces 35 and-256 forming the cut arenormally resiliently'urged against each other by the resilientcharacteristics of the material of which the device is made.

As the thickness between the outer surface 31 and inner surface 32 atthe slit formedby the mutuallycontacting surfaces 35 and 36 isappreciable, an effective seal requiring a substantial pressuredifferential for thepassage of air therethrough is obtained. On Figure5, the sur-' faces 35 and 36 are shown in slightly spaced relationshipfor purposes of clarity, but it is to be understood that the spacebetween the same is exaggerated, and nor mally the space between thesame is practically immeasurable'. Thus, during operation, only verysmall amounts of air are admitted provided the surface 23 is kept incontact with the cotton 17, these amounts occurring at regular'intervalsat such time as the pressure differential between the inside of thecontainer and the ambient air is suthciently great to force air throughthe slit 30.

The stopper element I3 is preferably formed of solid material, as shownon Figure 2, and may be alternately positioned with the neck engagingmember within the opening in the container 15, as shown on Figure 3. Ifdesired-the stopper element 13 may be eliminated, and separate stoppermeans (not shown) may be employed.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention as shown onFigures 6, 7, 8 and 9, parts corresponding to those of the firstembodiment have been designated by similar references characters toavoid needless repetition.

The second embodiment of the invention differs from.

the first embodiment in the construction of the venting means, whereinthe slit is substituted by a small hole 41, the nozzle member beingprovided with a knit or woven sock 42 having a side portion 43 adaptedto cover the hole 41, and an end portion 44 adapted to lie across theend of the duct 24 During use, the first stage liquid flowing from thecontainer'completely saturates the sock 42, to a degree sulficient toseal the hole 41. When the device reaches the second stage of operation,the capillary action of the cotton 17 'will draw liquid from the sock,to a degree sufi'icient to permit a small amount of air to flow throughthe hole 4-1, thus permitting additional liquid to flow through theduct. excess liquid again saturates the sock, and closes the hole 41 toprevent further flow.

Turning now to the alternate form of the first or second embodiment,this differs from the principal form in the provision of a duct 24a ofrectangular cross section,'further supplementing the action of thegroove 24';

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly usefulimprovements in moistening devices par ticularly adapted for use infilling pyrophoric lighters and similar devices, in which the liquidflowing from thedevice-is accurately controlled and ceases upon reachinga point wherein the lighter is completely saturated with When asaturation point is reached,

fuel. The device maybe formed entirely from a single injection moldingof a type well known in the art, thus keeping the cost of manufacturingthe same at a very low figure. As there are no moving parts in thedevice, there are no points of potential failure which might causefaulty operation with continued usage. No unusual skills are needed inthe operation. of the; device, nor can the device get out of adjustmentwith continued usage.

I Wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the exact details of structure shown and set forth in .thisspecification, for obvious modific tions will occur'to 'those skilled inthe art to which the present invention relates...

I claim:

l. A moistening device for use in conjunction with a container of fuelfor filling a pyrophoric lighter and similar devices having atfuelireservoir containing absorbent-- material comprisingzvan elongatedtube formed substantially entirely of a resilient material and having aprincipal axis-and first andsecond end portions, means on said firstendportion for engaginganopening in said container tionuandza slit.extending from said second end portion in a direction toward said first:end portion, said slit extending'com'pletely through said tube from'theouter sur- K face :thereof' to the 'surfaceof said channel and havingfirstand second sopposed side surfaces which are main-- tained incontact forming a: substantially sealed-relationshipby'thernormalres-iliency of the material fromwh-ich the .device isformed; said second end portion being p0 sitionable in contact with saidabsorbent material to permit fuel to flow under capillary action to apoint where said absorbent material is completely saturated during whichprocess: said slit permits the passage of a suflicient quantity: ofair'therethrough to substantially equalize .the pressuredifferential:between-the interior of said fuel containerand the ambientatmosphere, the resilientcontact of said side surfaces'preventingfurtherflow of air to the interior of said fuel container upon termination ofcapil: I lary action with the complete saturationof said absorbent-:

material.

2. A moistening device for use in conjunction. with'a container: offuel'for fillinga pyrophoricrlighter or similar device having a fuelreservoir containing absorbent material, comprising: a liquid conduct:element providing.

a channel through whichfuel mayaflow from said containensand..ven'ting'meansin theform of :a small opening extending through saidliquid conducting elementfa'djacentaone end. thereof, providingcommunication with said channel and'theam'bient atmosphere,.a textilesock member covering'saidzopening and extending into the pathtof liquidflowing through-said.liquid conducting element,-

wherebyrsaid sock member will become moistened dur- 1 ing :theucourse offilling said fuel I'6SIV0i1,"8.11d absorb fuel by capillary action whenthe filling of said reservoir has been completed .to preventthe flow ofair through-said small opening.

3. A moisteningrdeviceforuse in conjunction with =a container offuel'fontfilling a pyrophoric lighter or-similar devicehaving a fuelreservoir containingabsorbentmaterial, comprising:- a liquid conductingelement pro-'- viding a channel-through Whichfuel mayafiow from saidcontainer, andventing meanscommunicating with said channel and theambientatmosphere; said-venting'means' including means to preventtheflow of airtherethroughuntil a predetermined pressuredifferential isreached 'be--- tween the :pressure in saidcontainer and the atmosphericpressure surrounding said tube.

References: Cited in the file' of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS"2,188,802 Beckett Jan. 30, 1940 Pritchard Dec. 29, 1908'

